With support from the EU-funded “DAWRIC” project, the British Council organised today a panel discussion on challenges and solutions related to women’s political participation in Lebanon. The event was organised in collaboration with Maharat Foundation and the Committee for the Follow up on Women Issues (CFUWI),

One of DAWRIC’s main objectives is to promote gender equality in the political sphere and in decision-making processes at local and national levels in Lebanon. Today’s event included the launch of an awareness campaign on women’s political participation, as a step forward to achieve gender equality in Lebanon.

The British Council described how they promote gender equality in Lebanon. CFUWI announced the two priorities for DAWRIC’s advocacy campaign, including women’s political participation and the personal status law in Lebanon. Maharat Foundation stressed on the important role of media and communication in promoting women political participation.

The Minister of State for Women’s Affairs Jean Oghassabian stressed that “women’s work should not be limited to gender issues as they have a bigger role to play in national issues, such as the economy, security, and oil and gas.”

The panel that followed discussed the challenges facing women in politics and the solutions paving the way to increased participation through strategies and policies at the local and international level, in addition to the role of media in providing more space for women in the public sphere.

EU Ambassador Christina Lassen explained that the EU works hard to advance gender equality and women empowerment worldwide. “In Lebanon, we specifically focus on barriers in the law, gender-based violence and women’s participation in politics. But change has to come from Lebanon, and the EU is here to help,” she said. “We help by supporting organisations that share our values and belief in gender equality and by implementing projects like DAWRIC that contribute to this goal”, she added.

Read More

Press Release

Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon